Off road

Geely has confirmed the Battleship 700 off-road SUV for the Australian market.The brand said the large plug-in hybrid 4WD will hit our shores in the second half of 2027 and will top-out the Geely range for the time being.At this stage, few local details can be confirmed, even including the SUV’s name, which may be changed by the time it arrives domestically.Battleship 700 is its Chinese name, while it is alternatively called the Galaxy Cruiser, and debuted under its internal code name of KO11 in Europe.The Battleship 700 is over five meters long making it a rival to everything from the BYD Denza B8 through to the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series, although with styling cues taking inspiration from the Land Rover Defender.Its plug-in hybrid system is closer in design to the Denza B8 than GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T in that it drives the front wheels via a combination of the engine and electric motor, with a purely electric rear motor set-up. It does not feature a driveshaft connecting the transmission at the front to the axle at the rear, and has no transfer case.The brand could confirm the Australian market will receive a high-specification version of the SUV, featuring the full array of off-road features.It will use the most powerful powertrain combination consisting of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in the front and a total of three electric motors, one in the front and two in the rear.In China this set-up produces up to 830kW and is the most powerful off-road SUV in its class. It is said to be able to sprint from 0-100km/h in just over four seconds.In place of a driveshaft between the two axles, the Battleship 700 gets a 47kWh battery pack, which is said to provide up to 170km of fully electric driving range.The Battleship 700 rides on a newly-developed ladder architecture for upcoming off-road vehicles from Geely, and features adjustable-height air suspension, off-road specific software modes, an 800mm wading capability and importantly a rear differential lock between the two electric motors.It also features a full-size spare wheel on the swing-open tailgate, an 800-volt electrical architecture for ultra fast charging, vehicle-to-load and a full-size household outlet in the boot.Inside, it scores features like a panoramic sunroof, 12.3-inch digital dash, and 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, a fridge/heater under the centre console, standard synthetic leather interior trim and up to 23 speakers for the sound system.It also features the more high-end version of Geely’s software suite (more similar to what appears on Zeekr models), as well as adaptive damping in the suspension.It can automatically park itself, and features a ‘crab turn’ mode to rotate on the spot.The Battleship 700 in 2.0-litre tri-motor form starts from the equivalent of around $56,500 in China, stretching to $81,460 for the top-spec ‘Land Yacht’ version.With the usual additional 15 - 20 per cent added by the time most Chinese vehicles land in Australia, you can expect pricing in the realm of $70,000 - $98,000 by the time it arrives in Australia.The Denza B8 it will compete against costs $91,000 before on-roads in Australia.This places it well at the top of the brand’s range, but it undercuts the Zeekr 8X and 9X luxury SUVs.Geely said it received 43,900 orders within 60 minutes of the order books opening for the car in China on the 15th of September.The Battleship 700 is one part of a massive expansion for the Geely brand in Australia, building off the early success it has achieved with the EX5 and Starray EM-i SUVs.Also in 2027 the brand will also be adding the Emgrand, a Camry-rivalling sedan, and Monjaro mid-size SUV in the first half of the year, doubling its range from three to six vehicles.Geely made its debut in the top-10 best selling brands in Australia for the month of August, not even 18 months after it arrived locally with the EX5.

Aussie buyers will soon have a new fully-electric ute to choose from.The MG U9 EV will be the latest in a limited, but expanding set of electric utes in Australia.Prices for the MG U9 EV will start at $78,990 (before on-road costs).Its main competition will be the KGM Musso EV and the low-volume targeted Toyota HiLux BEV.The Musso EV is about $20,000 cheaper than the U9 EV, and the HiLux BEV is in the same ballpark.The U9 EV joins its diesel sibling that has been available in Australia since September 2025.The MG U9 is powered by two electric motors, making 325kW and 700Nm.This is substantially more performance than the Musso EV (152kW/339Nm) and the HiLux BEV (144kW/468Nm).It has the industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity and a 685kg payload.It’s equipped with a sizeable 102kWh battery that offers a driving range of 430km, besting the HiLux BEV (240km), both according to WLTP standards.DC charging at 115kW from 20 to 80 per cent takes 42 minutes.The car has all-wheel drive and a four-wheel electric air suspension system.The U9 EV can charge and power external devices directly using its vehicle-to-load system.Its external outlet operates at 6.6kW, with three 2.2kW outlets available in the cabin. Elsewhere inside, there is a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen as well as a wireless phone charger.The ute has an eight-speaker JBL audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.Front seats are wrapped in leather and are heated, while the driver seat is ventilated and has massage functionality.The U9 EV's technology includes a 360-degree camera and hands-free automatic tailgate.The U9 EV will be shown in the metal for one of the first times on September 18, 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney as it edges closer to an official launch.Australia will be the first market to launch the U9 EV globally, which is expected to happen before the end of 2026 or early 2027.Pricing will be revealed closer to U9 EV’s arrival, but it will need to be competitive with the KGM Musso EV ($60,000, drive-away) and the Toyota HiLux BEV ($74,990, before on-road costs).Buyers can expect it to be more expensive than the diesel variant that starts from $52,990, drive-away. 

GWM has finally opened the order books for its Tank 300 Hooke Edition in China, as a massively overhauled version of the 4WD specialised for off-road performance.The brand has opened ‘blind orders’ taking a small deposit from interested buyers ahead of a full specification and pricing release for the Chinese market.The Hooke edition was originally teased a year ago at the Shanghai motor show, teasing significant upgrades for hardcore off-roading. The Hooke edition is named after the Hooke Trail off-road park in the Helan Mountains bordering Inner Mongolia to the west of Beijing. The park is notorious for its challenging trails, and is essentially China’s version of the famous Moab trail, which Jeep products are ‘trail rated’ for.While it was speculated at the time the Tank 300 Hooke Edition would be equipped with GWM’s new 4.0-litre V8, which it was teased alongside in Shanghai, the version just launched in China is equipped with the carryover 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Producing 170kW/400Nm, it is mated to a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission with a low-range transfer case.The focus for this new variant is instead a significant underbody overhaul. The usual double wishbone independent front suspension has been replaced with a more rugged solid axle to match a similar set-up on the rear axle.The tweaked layout plus suspension changes mean the Tank 300 can now accommodate up to 40-inch tyres, and its off-road specifications have also been changed as a result. It has a reinforced front axle housing, with stronger control and trailing arms in the suspension. The overall suspension rigidity has been increased by 38 per cent.It also now has a significantly improved approach angle of 41 degrees, while the departure angle remains the same at 34 degrees. It has front and rear locking differentials similar to other high-end Tank 300 grades.The 300 Hooke Edition also comes equipped with downsized 18-inch wheels, redesigned front and rear bumpers, specific black trim for some exterior pieces, pre-wired towing, and a snorkel.The new version expands on an already broad Tank 300 range.In Australia, the 4WD is available in 2.4-litre diesel, 2.0-litre turbo petrol, and 2.0-litre ‘Hi4-T’ plug-in hybrid. The brand is even set to add a V6 version to the Chinese line-up in the near future.In China, the new Hooke edition is also added on top of the ‘Hi4-Z’ plug-in version, which trades away a rear solid axle linkage for dedicated electric motors and a longer EV driving range from a larger battery capacity.The Tank 300 is GWM’s third best-selling vehicle in Australia, ranking behind the Jolion small SUV, H6 mid-sizer, and Cannon ute range. While not one of the best-selling ladder frame off-roaders in Australia, it performs decently for its segment, and sells more than ten times the volume of the Jeep Wrangler from which it clearly takes inspiration.GWM is on a big new model push in Australia, introducing new 3.0-litre turbo diesel variants of some of its ute and 4WD range, as well as expanding on the portfolio of its EV-focused Ora sub-brand, which it needs to bring down its emissions liabilities under Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES).It will also introduce an overhauled and tougher-looking version of the boxy Subaru Outback-rivalling Haval H7, as well as new plug-in versions of the regular Cannon ute.Stay tuned for more on GWM’s model range expansion in 2027 and beyond imminently.

Geely has not only put a price-tag on its highly anticipated Battleship 700 4WD, but says it sold 43,900 units within an hour of the books opening in China.The over-five-meter long plug-in hybrid (PHEV) off-roader starts from the equivalent of $41,754 in its Chinese home market, with prices stretching to nearly double that - $81,460 for the flagship ‘Land Yacht’ edition.There are a total of six variants available, across three powertrains and three main trim levels.The entry-level powertrain is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit (120kW/255Nm) available in either single-motor front-wheel drive (350kW/605Nm) or tri-motor all-wheel drive (690kW/1165Nm), while the top-spec powertrain is tri-motor all-wheel drive only with a larger 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine producing a total of 830kW/1330Nm.All versions come with a 47.14kWh CATL LFP battery pack, allowing a driving range of up to 305km on the 2WD cars, or up to 280km for the tri-motor all-wheel drive versions, although this is to the more lenient CLTC measuring standard.The three trim levels are dubbed Explorer, Peak and Land Yacht. All versions also get adaptive dampers, while 2.0-litre tri-motor versions score height-adjustable air suspension and a low-range driving mode with a rear differential lock.The big 4WD has no driveshaft connection between the front and rear axles, with that space taken up by the large battery. This makes it closer in layout to rivals like the Denza B5 rather than the GWM Tank 500, with the rear axle being purely electrically driven.This means the Galaxy 700 needs to rely more heavily on its software terrain modes for its off-road prowess.Every variant scores features like LED lights all-round and massive 20-inch alloy wheels, while the large internal screens run Geely’s latest and more high-end Flyme 2 software suite which features some similar features to the system featured in Zeekr models.The Battleship 700 is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market, but Geely choose to bring it here; it would be a no-brainer for it to go with the all-wheel drive versions only.With the usual 15 - 20 per cent premium added to Chinese vehicles by the time they are converted to right-hand drive, compiled and shipped to Australia, we could expect pricing to land in the realm of $70,000-$98,000 if the brand sticks to the higher trim levels.This would easily make it Geely’s flagship, whilst still leaving breathing space above for its Zeekr premium arm and its more road-focused 8X and 9X luxury plug-in hybrids.It would also place it in similar pricing territory to the GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (from $75,990), whilst undercutting the Denza B8 (from $91,000).The Battleship 700 is part of a wave of new box-style off-roaders buying into the Chinese market trend.GAC has also recently priced its similar Yue 7 off-roader in China. It is significantly less powerful and not quite as nicely appointed but is also significantly more affordable than the Geely, starting with a predicted price of A$52,000 to around $65,000 for 4WD versions once the usual conversion is added from its Chinese price.Other options which are expected for an Australian debut in the near future include those from Chery’s iCaur and Jetour brands, as well as from its Freelander joint-venture with Land Rover.Stay tuned for more on the Geely Battleship 700 as the brand is expected to confirm more of its plans for 2027 imminently.

I recently changed the battery in my 2019 Mazda BT-50 and, since then, the Alpine media system no longer works, along with the reverse camera. I have tried changing the fuse in the main fuse box, but that makes no difference.

Aussie buyers have a new 4WD to think about.The Mitsubishi Pajero will launch in Australia with great anticipation in December 2026 when the revived 4WD hits showrooms. Mitsubishi has revealed pricing and specifications for its new model, but how does it stack up to key rivals in the segment?It will face the most fierce competition with the popular Toyota Prado and Ford Everest, so here is how it shapes up against those popular options. The Pajero squeezes under the $70,000 mark, starting from $68,490, which is cheaper than the Toyota Prado, but more expensive than both Ford Everest variants.It continues to undercut the Prado up the grades, with its Exceed starting from $79,990, while the GSR starts from $84,990.The Prado's $73,200 starting price is $4710 more than the base five-seater Pajero ($68,490), with Prado pricing extending to $100,620 on the top grade.The Pajero’s cheapest seven-seater variant is $69,990, more than $10,000 cheaper than the Prado's base seven-seater ($80,665). Both 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre Everest base variants are cheaper than the Pajero and the Prado. The Everest 2.0 starts from $58,990, with prices increasing up to $71,990, while the Everest 3.0 kicks off from $66,990, with the top-spec grade starting from $83,417.The Pajero’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine matches the Prado for power at 150kW, but its 480Nm, is just shy of the 500Nm total in its Toyota rival. The Pajero also has more performance than the 2.0-litre Everest, but the 3.0-litre Everest is the pick of the bunch for outright power with 184kW and 600Nm. All four competitors boast the industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity. Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed the Pajero’s fuel efficiency, so we don’t know how it compares to its rivals. It will need to offer below 8.0L/100km to be competitive. The closely-related Triton offers as little as 7.5L/100km, so it could beat that figure. The Pajero comes with a rear differential lock and low-range transfer case on all grades as part of its permanent 4WD system.The Prado has a permanent 4WD system, but a locking rear differential is only found on a higher grade of the car.All 4x4 grades of the Ford Everest feature a rear differential lock and a permanent 4WD system.The Pajero's approach and departure angles are similar to the Everest's, along with a competitive ground clearance figure.The Prado's 17.0-degree departure angles is significantly less than the Pajero and Everest, as is its 210mm ground clearance.The Pajero has a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, while higher grades are equipped with dual 14.3-inch display.This beats the Everest’s standard 8.0-inch digital driver display and 12.0-inch touchscreen.All Prado grades match the Pajero’s 12.3-inch central unit, but it only has a 7.0-inch driver display as standard. The Pajero has waterproof black fabric seat trim to start, mirroring other standard fabrics in its rivals. Leather seat trim is available for all further up the range. The Pajero boasts a 10-year/200,000-kilometre conditional warranty, when services are completed on time at Mitsubishi dealers.If buyers opt not to service at Mitsubishi, warranty reverts to a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee. It is also available with a 10-year capped price servicing deal, but we don’t know how much it will cost yet.All new Ford Everests bought from 1 September 2026 are now covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.Ford offers a capped price servicing deal on the Everest of $1596 for the first five years, working out at $319 per annual service. Toyota also offers capped price servicing, for either three or five years, with servicing every six months. The Prado is available with Toyota’s five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to seven years for engine and driveline when the car is serviced at dealers. 

Toyotas are ubiquitous in Australia, with everything from Camrys and Corollas through to the legendary 4WD LandCruisers near-omnipresent on our roads and bush tracks.But there are some Toyotas that are sold – and popular – overseas but aren’t offered in the Australian market, and if they are offered here they haven’t achieved the sales success Toyota has hoped for. Case in point: the Tundra, while it’s much loved in the good ol’ US of A, it has achieved only middling success here.The Tundra’s sales struggle here have somewhat discouraged Toyota from bringing any other overseas models here and that’s a real shame because there are some appealing vehicles in that mix.Read on.Much respected in off-roading circles, the 4Runner – think a Surf/Fortuner mash-up on HGH (Hard-core Growth Hormone) – has been around in various iterations since 1984. Now in its sixth generation, the 4Runner comes with a 2.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine (204kW and 430Nm), or a 2.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder hybrid powertrain (240kW and 630Nm), both matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s a Toyota off-roader – with part-time or full-time 4WD, drive modes and diff locks – so it’s handy in the dirty stuff, of course.Australia doesn’t need another 4WD, but the 4Runner wouldn’t go astray here.Prices in the US start from MSRP $42,270 (approx. AUD $58,700).Not as well known here, the Sequoia is a well established large SUV in the US market.This large SUV – top-spec versions tip the scales at 2790kg – is more open-road cruiser than hard-core 4WD but, having said that, it still has the mechanicals and tech onboard to traverse difficult terrain. The 2026 Sequoia is equipped with a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 hybrid (321kW and 790Nm), matched to a 10-speed auto, and is rated to legally tow up to 4309kg.Mid-range variants and upwards have part-time 4WD (with high- and low-range 4WD) and an automatic limited-slip differential.The Sequoia may struggle to find a niche here as stablemate Cruiser has that part of the market sewn up.Feeling posh? Go for the Trailhunter package, replete with an Old Man Emu upgraded suspension, Michelin LTX Trail 265/70R18 tyres, bronze-finished wheels, front recovery hooks and extra underbody protection.Prices in the US start from MSRP $68,725 for an SR5 4WD (approx. AUD $95,456).Like a baby 300 Series, only better – or at least that’s what Toyota wants you to believe.Launched in May this year, this diminutive five-seater FJ – with a 270mm shorter wheelbase than the 250 Series – has a 2.7-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine (producing 120kW and 246Nm), a six-speed auto, part-time 4WD and an electric rear differential lock.It’s boxy and compact – it has a turning circle of 5.5m – and looks set to take on the likes of Suzuki’s Jimny in the cute-but-capable off-road stakes.A Cruiser-based but shrunken ladder-frame structure is the platform for this tough-seeming little nugget of an off-roader.Off-road angles are up there with the 250 Series and, on paper, this FJ has plenty of off-road potential.Sure, this mini Cruiser exists in a niche within a niche but we reckon it’d sell here.Prices in Japan start from 4,500,100 yen (about $40,100).Massive in America and well suited to outdoorsy life in Australia, the Tacoma is a big ute made for rough-and-tumble work and play, so why it hasn’t landed here yet its beyond us.Now available with a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four engine (producing up to 204kW and 430Nm) or a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four hybrid powertrain (producing up to 239kW and 630Nm) that’s matched to either a six-speed manual gearbox or eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s built on the same chassis as the full-size Tundra and Sequoia, and gains bolstering from a Toyota New Global Architecture-F (TNGA-F) platform of high-strength steel, lightweight aluminium and laser welds. So, robust.And, of course, it’s all packed into a ute with Toyota’s reliable baked-in off-road effectiveness.TRD variants and upwards get Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, and an electronically controlled locking rear differential as standard.Go for a Trailhunter and you get Old Man Emu 2.5-inch forged monotube position-sensitive shocks with rear piggyback reservoirs, high-clearance front bumper, rock rails and ARB steel rear bumper with recovery hooks, and 33-inch rugged-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels.We know lots of people in Australia who jump at the chance to own one of these big utes.Prices in the US start from MSRP $32,545 (approx. AUD $45,203).A ute actually designed and engineered to do ute stuff? No way.The HiLux Champ – a Thailand-only vehicle – is an intriguing oddity that’s sure to fire the imagination of many a quirky car fan there and abroad.It’s a 2WD two-seater ute with a choice of three engine types – 2.0L petrol, 2.7L petrol, or a 2.4L four-cylinder diesel – and it has either a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic transmission. Depending on your Champ’s spec level it may have a one-tonne payload and a minimum 5.4m turning circle.Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) offers eight grades of the Champ, including short- and long-wheelbase versions, and an unequipped variant with a flat deck is available. With customisation in mind, TMT has made sure the deck has bolt holes at various locations so that custom accessories can be attached.It’s built for purpose and, on paper, certainly has a lot of appeal as a work ute and a mod-friendly vehicle.The Champ would fit right in here.Prices range from 459,000 to 577,000 baht (approx. $19,354 to $24,329).

Honda has jumped onboard the serious off-road bandwagon, releasing a tougher, lifted version of its all-wheel drive Passport SUV.It has been positioned as “the most off-road-capable SUV Honda has ever built”.Designed at the Honda Design Studio in California, developed at the Honda Automotive Development Centre in Ohio and produced at its main US plant in Alabama, the fourth-generation Passport debuted for the North American market early last year.The new Passport TrailSport has been reengineered for extra off-highway ability with upgrades including:Revised suspension with 245mm of ground clearance (+35mm)Increased approach, breakover and departure clearancesExtra wheel articulationAmber hood scoop lightsMore pronounced fender flaresResculpted lower front fasciaTrailWatch camera systemGeneral Grabber A/T Sport tyresIn a launch statement Honda said, “Rather than simply adding taller springs (our) engineers comprehensively re-designed the 2027 Passport TrailSport suspension system to ensure proper geometry for desirable handling and ride characteristics, while substantially improving capability. “Nearly 70 per cent of the major suspension components were redesigned, including springs, dampers, control arms, stabilizer bars and knuckles. “The front driveshafts and front subframe were also redesigned to help facilitate the increased ride height and wheel travel. “A total of 28 suspension and related chassis parts have been redesigned, reengineered or are otherwise new for the 2027 Passport TrailSport,” it said.And Honda was keen to point out the TrailSport’s ground clearance exceeds that of its main North American competitors, the amazingly-named Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch, Subaru Outback Wilderness and Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road.At the same time, the Passport TrailSport’s TrailWatch camera system incorporates front, rear, side and 360-degree views as well as tyre placement graphics to help drivers navigate obstacles outside their natural line of sight.The Passport’s 3.5-litre, naturally aspirated V6 engine (built in Alabama) sends 213kW/355Nm to all four wheels via a 10-speed ‘shift-by-wire’ automatic transmission and Honda’s ‘i-VTM4’ variable torque management all-wheel drive system.Interestingly, the Passport TrailSport, in top-spec Elite trim, will be exported from the USA to Japan from early 2027.But sadly for Aussie off-roaders, that doesn’t mean the export cars will be produced in right-hand drive. Rather they will arrive in Japan in left-hand drive as LHD cars are legally allowed on Japanese roads without restrictions.And much as the Passport TrailSport would fill a yawning gap in Honda Australia’s local line-up, the company is on the record saying it has no plans to launch the car Down Under.

GWM has revealed its new Land Rover Defender and Mitsubishi Pajero rival.GWM’s premium sub-brand Wey recently teased a new rugged-looking SUV called the Blue Mountain on social media.Wey is already on its way to Australia, with the V9X full-size SUV and 80 people mover expected to be the first models to launch here.A smaller V8X SUV could also be on its way, but the brand has not confirmed an arrival yet.Wey describes the Blue Mountain SUV as a “luxurious box-shaped” vehicle.It should provide competition for the Toyota Prado and the upcoming Mitsubishi Pajero.It is also likely to take on key Chinese rivals the Denza B5 and B8 that went on sale in Australia in late 2025, as well as Chery's Freelander sub-brand.Wey is GWM’s answer to Europe’s high-end luxury SUVs Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lexus LX and Range Range Rover.Wey has not revealed any technical specifications about the Blue Mountain.Its boxy design emphasises a sharp roofline that sits flush to a swing-open tailgate.It also has a spare tyre mounted to the tailgate, and large racks fitted to the roof to highlight its adventuring potential. The rear light design is split up into two separate square-like clusters on each side.Its side profile is similar to the plug-in hybrid Haval H10 that could be on the cards for Australia in the future.This means the Blue Mountain will ride on the next-generation GWM One platform, and will likely feature a powerful plug-in hybrid set-up. The design differs from Wey’s V8X and V9X SUVs that appear to be more targeted towards luxury-focused buyers. This model should provide luxury adventure-focused buyers with a potentially cheaper alternative to the Land River Defender, but expect more details before the end of 2026. GWM is still planning to launch the Wey sub-brand in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the V9X SUV and 80 people mover coming first.Those modesl will be followed by further expansion to the line-up in 2027.There is potential for the Blue Mountain to launch in Australia as part of Wey's expanded Australian line-up, but we should learn more when the brand officially launches here. 

Renault has revealed its Niagara ute as part of a massive overseas push for the French brand.The Niagara is a true ute, being based on a car-derived platform, rather than a rugged ladder frame that underpins most dual-cabs sold in Australia.In its initial target market of South America, it will do battle with the successful Ford Maverick, the BYD Mako ute, and the incoming new Volkswagen Tukan.The Niagara rides on Renault’s recently-launched RGMP platform, which is a heavily updated version of the CMF-B platform that underpins the new-generation Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Juke and Renault Arkana.Renault says this helps it maintain ‘the comfort of an SUV with the versatility of a pick-up’ although it does have some rugged capabilities, with up to 233mm of ground clearance, approach and departure angles of up to 22.1 degrees front and rear.It also scores a cargo bed with 938 litres of total available space, with a payload of 654 kilos. It also features a rolling cover as standard, and an electric tailgate. Renault says it has best-in-class towing of 710kg for this style of monocoque ute.It also features suspension specifically designed for the rough conditions of South America, as well as an ‘exclusive rear axle’ design. Unlike most utes, it features multi-link suspension in the rear, which Renault says both improves ride comfort and stability on poor road surfaces.The brand says special attention was paid to integrating the cab section to the load bed area in order to create a more harmonious design with more seamlessly connected parts.Powering the Niagara is a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol (and flex-fuel) engine. It produces 115kW/270Nm in front-wheel drive variants, or 120kW/270Nm in all-wheel drive versions and can be chosen either with a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch automatic.All-wheel drive versions have an on-demand torque split system, which relies on the traction sensors to send drive to the appropriate axle automatically. When driving on the road, the system defaults to front-wheel drive like most on-demand AWD SUVs.The brand says the Niagara underwent 800,000km worth of testing across South America in preparation for its launch, including extreme heat, tough road conditions and long-distance journeys.At 4940mm long, it is slightly smaller than its closest rival sold in Australia, the KGM Musso EV.Feature-wise it also incorporates full LED exterior lighting, as well as a modern cabin featuring a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. It also features an electronic shifter for automatic variants to free up centre console space.The new ute is part of a push by Renault to be one of 14 new models built for markets outside of Europe by 2030 and to that end the Niagara is built in Argentina.With the notable focus on South America though, it looks as though the Niagara will join the list of cool-looking would-be replacements for cult hits like the Subaru Brumby or Proton Jumbuck, which may never see Australian shores.Like most of its rivals built for and in Latin American markets, it is likely to remain exclusively in left-hand drive, with unique flex-fuel engines not sold in our market and likely with lower levels of safety equipment needed to either comply with Australian Design Rules or secure a high ANCAP score.Renault joins a list of embattled brands in Australia’s increasingly competitive market, with its sales shrinking 7.5 per cent year on year. The French brand is faring significantly better than its nemesis Peugeot locally, but remains a niche offering with its 2959 units this year on a similar level to brands like Chevrolet, Mini and KGM.